Veteran sports writer Jim Utter covers NASCAR for The Charlotte Observer and its racing site, ThatsRacin.com. In this space, Jim writes about all things NASCAR and other forms of racing which may also be relevant ... or not.

Monday, March 5, 2012

Elliott Sadler will not be doing five Sprint Cup races this season for Michael Waltrip Racing after all.

Over the weekend, MWR announced Sadler would drive the No. 55 Toyota in five of the races this season not on Mark Martin's schedule. Sadler drives the No. 2 Chevrolet for Richard Childress Racing fulltime in the Nationwide Series. He drove in the Daytona 500 but had no other Cup starts planned this season.

By Sunday night, rumors were flying the deal was off and Sadler on Monday confirmed he was no longer driving for MWR in an interview with Sirius Satellite Radio.

Sadler won the Nationwide race Saturday at Phoenix. He said team owner Richard Childress told him following that race he wanted Sadler to focus on winning the Nationwide championship.

"Richard and the executives of RCR just don't think right now is the right time. It's in our best interest to win the Nationwide championship. After leading the points after the first two races, nobody wants any distractions," Sadler said.